Two-time Grammy winner and renowned artist Lorde is back for her fourth worldwide tour for the release of Virgin, the New Zealand singer’s latest album. If you were lucky enough to score tickets for “The Ultrasound Tour” and are anticipating your concert date, I’m here to assure you won’t regret buying those tickets.
Pre-Show & Openers
I had the pleasure of seeing Lorde at the Anthem on October 4 just a few rows away from the main stage. Fans with general admission tickets began lining up outside of the venue as early as the night before and by 3:30 pm the day of the show (two hours before doors opened) there were hundreds of people in line; the queue going back blocks.
Early merchandise was available nearby prior to doors opening, allowing fans to have a better chance of getting the merchandise they want before it sells out.
On the Ultrasound Tour, there are seven total openers that rotate shows, two for each night. This includes artists Blood Orange, The Japanese House, Chanel Beads, Empress of, Nilüfer Yanya, Jim-E Stack, and Oklou. DC Night 1 had bands Chanel Beads and The Japanese House play sets prior to Lorde’s.
Chanel Beads played first, revitalizing tired supporters who had been patiently waiting in the general admissions line all day. The electronic nature of Chanel Beads’ music meshed perfectly with Lorde’s unique yet distinct genre. While more mellow than Chanel Beads, Lorde fans also relished The Japanese House’s efficacious energy. Overall, both bands performed sensationally and were optimal choices to kick off the night.
Lorde Takes the Stage
After both opening bands had finished their sets and the crowd began getting restless, a blue light falls over the concert hall and Lorde suddenly appears before the audience. As the intense opening notes to “Hammer” begins to play, the arena erupts with eagerness and adrenaline. The setlist was centered around Virgin but included plenty of classics from past albums Pure Heroin, Melodrama, and Solar Power.
Lorde’s stage presence was so spiritous; you’d think she was simply dancing alone in her bedroom, and the entire crowd succeeded in matching that vibrancy. One of the most symbolic moments of the show was when Lorde began walking on a treadmill on stage, increasing her speed to a run as the bridge to “Supercut” built up and she belts the words, “We were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart.” Many fans expressed on social media that they had felt with this detail Lorde had perfectly encapsulated what it felt like to listen to the timeless hit that is “Supercut”.
Lorde included many other intricate details that helped to pull the performance together. For instance, her minor outfit changes throughout the show. Lorde comes out on stage in a baby tee and jeans and gradually removes layers until she’s barefoot on stage in just her baby tee and shorts, giving a tremendously intimate feel to the night much like the essence of “Virgin” itself.
It wasn’t just when she was singing that Lorde connected with her audience; she also had the crowd grappled with commentary between songs about her battle with an eating disorder as well as a moving speech regarding the journey of self-discovery she embarked on in recent years and how that influenced her latest album.
The fans in DC were extremely dedicated as well, a few had created small slips of colored paper that they handed out to those attending with instructions to hold them up to phone flashlights as Lorde sung “Man of the Year”. The crowd did not disappoint, the entire venue was lit up in pastel colors and Lorde commented on the fan project saying into her microphone, “I don’t know how you’re doing that but it’s so beautiful!”
Despite the phenomenal performance she put on while on stage, my most cherished moment was the few minutes Lorde spent walking through the crowd. As she began singing one of her most potent and influential songs, “David”, the crowd rushed to the white line of tape marked on the floor where Lorde herself would shortly walk along. Immediate goosebumps don’t even begin to describe the feeling when she was suddenly right in front of you, making eye contact and holding the hands of her supporters while singing one of her most vulnerable songs. I’m sure anyone who had the pleasure of being so close to Lorde during that instance would likely agree that those three minutes made the concert especially personal and unforgettable.
The night ended with Lorde on a small stage at the back of the venue singing an encore of a fan favorite song the artist wrote when she was only sixteen called, “Ribs”. No matter what view you had of her at that point, every person was swept up in the music and strobe of lights, swaying along with loved ones which is perfectly on theme for the song and its message of growing up and lifelong friendship. Best friends, couples, and family all throughout the pit held onto each other as the audience sung along to beloved lyrics in the fanbase, “You’re the only friend I need, sharing beds like little kids.” And when the show had come to an end and people began pouring out of the arena, the enthusiasm and thrill that remained on everyone’s faces despite the inevitable exhaustion was contagious.